Darko-Kelly, Montana Western handle No. 10 Carroll College men

DILLON — The No. 10 Carroll College men’s basketball team fell to No. 18 Montana Western 88-77 Thursday night on the road in Dillon.

The Saints looked like the team that rattled off 15 straight wins to start the season early, building a 9-3 advantage with 16:55 left to play in the first half.

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Carroll’s two leading scorers Ryan Imhoff and Match Burnham each picked up two quick fouls and with the duo on the bench, the Bulldogs went on an 11-2 run to take a 14-11 lead. Carroll battled back and took a 15-14 lead, but Western went up 19-17 and never trailed again.

The Bulldogs led 35-44 at the break. Carroll cut it to 50-42 with 17:43 remaining, but every run was answered by Western, and the Bulldogs earned the 11-point win.

Imhoff tallied a double-double with a team-high 19 points and 11 rebounds. Four other Saints scored in double figures. The Saints were 30-62 (48.4 percent) from the field and 4-16 (25 percent) from the three-point line.

Zaccheus Darko-Kelly led Western with 20 points. The Bulldogs were 28-51 (54.9 percent) from the field and 9-20 (45 percent) from the three-point line. Western carried a huge advantage at the free throw line going 23-32 (71.9 percent), making more free throws than Carroll had attempts. The Saints were 13-18 (72.22 percent).

The Saints continue the road trip Saturday with a game at Lewis-Clark State, scheduled for 5 p.m. MST at the Activity Center in Lewiston, Idaho.